South Korea launches second Dokdo-class helicopter carrier

Gabriel Dominguez, London - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly

14 May 2018

South Korean shipbuilder Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction (HHIC) launched the second Dokdo-class landing platform helicopter (LPH) on order for the Republic of Korea Navy (RoKN) on 14 May, the country's Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) said in a statement.

The launch ceremony for Marado (with pennant number 6112), which is set to be delivered to the RoKN by the end of 2020 following trials, was held at HHIC's facilities in Busan. Construction work of the 199 m-long amphibious assault ship began in 2016.

The vessel, which will have a crew of 300 and a maximum speed of 23 kt, will feature a number of locally made combat and radar systems along with other equipment such as propellers and lifts, said DAPA without further elaborating.

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